US Reform Jews endorse land theft in Israel and occupied territories

Daniel Atar, chairman of the board of the Jewish National Fund, or KKL.



Editors’ Note: These days Reform Jewry is in a pickle. It first condemned Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem, then Dani Dayan, the Israeli consul general, expressed grief over the Reform statement, and so did Malcolm Hoenlein, and the next day the Reforms reversed course and said the recognition was a great thing. Here is some other distressing news from the largest Jewish denomination in the U.S., supposedly a progressive group. Our correspondent wishes to remain anonymous.

The Union for Reform Judaism, or URJ, Biennial is the largest gathering of the largest Jewish denomination. It took place last week in Boston. There were 13 “major speakers”. Alongside Elizabeth Warren and the Governor of Massachussetts, and Fran Drescher and Krista Tippett, were two Israelis: David Grossman and the Chairman of the Jewish National Fund, Daniel Atar.

So, the only Israeli organization the URJ showcased in prime time is the Jewish National Fund. Granted that the URJ absolutely must showcase Israel (why?), did it have to be the champion of land theft in Israel and the West Bank?

The organization that sweeps the ghosts of the Palestinian villages of the Nakba under its man-made forests?

There are so many non-partisan organizations that are well known in the U.S. Reform Jewish community and that reasonable people could accept. Life-saving organizations such as Magen David Adom (the Israeli Red Cross) or liberal religious organizations such as one of the URJ’s affiliates, the Israeli Reform movement.,

Looks like the URJ is determined to put the violence and dispossession of Zionism on the table.

So… let’s have the debate.

Advertising

About Anonymous Contributor

Occasionally authors will request to publish pieces anonymously. Where possible, we respect this request. Articles published under this account are from multiple authors.

Posted In:

6 Responses

The name of the game is subvert. There is no debate about that. If you’re a people’s champion, and want to stay as one, you have to be vigilant. Progressives must abandon other progressives in their organization who have gone over to the dark side, or else they will be identified as the enemy. Debate all you want. But act.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren said on Friday she worries that U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital will make it harder to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Addressing several thousand attendees at The Union For Reform Judaism convention in Boston, the Massachusetts Democrat said she believes a two-state solution is the best hope for peace between Israel and the Palestinians.

While Warren said Jerusalem is the capital of Israel, she added that diplomacy between Israelis and Palestinians should determine the final status of the city. …””

It’s all disgusting, but not unexpected. The big-players stick together. AIPAC does not only “own” the US Congress but appears also to “own” the major Jewish organizations, even those which might be supposed to oppose it on some matters.

In the same way that political-progressives must abandon the Democratic Party because of its manifest inability or unwillingness to abandon dependence on big-money donors (oligarchic icons such as BIG-BANKS, BIG-OIL,BIG-PHARMA) (and consequent throwing of the Bernie Sanders folks under the bus) to say nothing of manifest unwillingness or inability to abandon dependence on that other oligarchic icon, BIG-ZION (AIPAC et al); so, too, religious-progressives and human-rights-progressivese must abandon any big Jewish organizations and/or big-Christian organizations which have sold their souls to BIG-ZION.

Support Mondoweiss’s independent journalism today

Mondoweiss brings you the news that no one else will. Your tax-deductible donation enables us to deliver information, analysis and voices stifled elsewhere. Please give now to maintain and grow this unique resource.